“In the end, I was left to reflect on what I would want in the face of my own death,” Brown said. “I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill. And I wouldn’t deny that right to others."

As a Catholic who once studied to be a priest, Brown had to deal with the Catholic Church’s opposition to allowing people to opt for a quick, medical death instead of a prolonged and agonizing one.

He did what any elected official should do. He put his own faith second to his duty to represent people of a wide variety of beliefs.

California’s law is modeled on Oregon’s. It allows physicians to provide prescriptions for lethal drugs to adults who are competent and have been diagnosed with a terminal illness for which they can expect to die within six months.